Cutter-chain



M. P. HOLMES.

CUTTER CHAIN.

, APPLICATION FILED APR.2, 1919.

mmsm. PatentedNov. .4, 1919.

IINITEE STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

MORRIS P. HOLMES, 0F CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR T0 SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CUTTER-CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1.919.

Application filed April 2, 1919. Serial No. 287,027.

To all whom'it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mourns P. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Out tor-Chains, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to cutter chains.

It has for its object to provide an improved cutter chain, and especially an improved cutter chain adapted to use in connection with mining machines. A further object of my invention is to provide improved means whereby the operator is protected even should he come in contact with the chain, this means preferably being carried upon the chain and automatically rendered inoperative during the cutting operation. These and other objects and advantages of m improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of a cutter chain constructed in accordance with my improvement.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

In this illustrative construction, it will be observed that I have shown a cutter chain of usual construction comprising a plurality of cutter links 1 carrying bits 2 thereon, relatively offset with respect to the median line of the chain, the links 1 being operatively connected by intermediate links 3.

In my improved construction, I have provided bit shrouding means which are adapted to shroud the bits 2 when the latter have emerged from the work and to be automatically rendered inoperative when the bits are in engagement with the work. These means may obviously assume various forms and be carried in different positions upon the chain. In the form of my invention shown, they include an elongated shrouding member 4: pivotallyconnected at 5 to each .of the intermediate links, and having a rounded head 6 on its outer end adapted to be projected beyond the point of its bit by a resilient connection between the member -l and the chain.

As shown, this resilient connection is in the form of a bent fiat spring 7 having one end resting against the inner surface of the member 4 and its opposite end fixed to the usual lateral extension on the link 1. Also, it will be noted that in my improved construction a stop memberis provided on the opposite end of the member 4, herein in the form of a lateral extension 8 engageable with the body of the intermediate link 3 at a point closely adjacent the pivot 5 in such a manner as to limit the outward movement of the member 4: under the influence of the spring 7. It will also be observed that as shown the members 4 are preferably so disposed along the chain as to be in front of each of the bits 2, regardless of the angle of the same relative to the median line of the chain, certain of the members t preferably being deflected laterally, as shown at 9, in

order to bring them opposite their respective bits.

In the operation of my improved construction, it will be evident that the spring 7 will act to force out the members 4 so that, as shown at the left hand side of Fig. l, the rounded head 6 will project beyond the cutting edge of the bit. Thus, it will be observed that these rounded heads 6 are disposed in such a position that should an operator get too close to an exposed portion of the chain, the members 4; would first strike him or his clothing and, due to the movement of the chain and the resistance of the spring 7 knock him or his clothing out of the path of the bits, which would otherwise catch him and drag him into the mechanism. Also, it will be observed that when the chain engages with the work, as for instance when the same passes around the machine and in under the coal. the engagement of the members 4 with the work will be such as to force the members 4 inward against their springs and thereby expose the bits 2 and enable the latter to cut as usual.

As a result of my improved construction, it will be observed that all necessity for providing external guards or shields adapted to inclose the chain or telescope with the machine, is entirely eliminated at the same time that an exceedingly simple construction is produced adapted to render the chain har.m less when exposed, without in any way interfering with its effective operation when less frequently cleaned.

in engagement with its work. It will also be observed that themechanism IS'GXCGGCh ingly simple and adapted to beapplied to a standard cutter chain without material change therein. Attention is also directed to the fact that although in lieu of the springs of the form shown herein, resilient means of various forms may be utilized to perform the same function, an open type spring such as shown herein is preferred, as distinguished from a coiled type wherein the slack may pack in such a manner as to render the spring and chaininetfective un- These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, "be apparent'to those skilled in the art.

While I have. inthis application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it is tobe understood that this form thereof is usedfor illustrative purposes only and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

'What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In-a cutter chain, a movable cutter-bit, and shroudingmeans movable therewith.

2. In a cutter chain, amovable cutter bit, and yielding shroudingJ means movable therewith.

3. In a cutter chain, a movable eutterbit, and normally operative shrouding means movable therewith.

4. In a cutter chain, a movable outter'bit, and work controlled shrouding means movable therewith. V

5. In, a cutter chain, a movable cutter bit, and a pivotally mounted shrouding member cooperating therewith.

6. In a cutter chainymov-able cutter bits, and shrouding means movable therewith automatically operative-when the bits emerge from the work.

7. In a cutter chain, movable cutter bits,

and shrouding means movable therewith automatically inoperative when the bits enter the work.

Copies a! this patent'may 'be obtained'tor 8. In a cutter chain, movable cutter bits,

and shrouding means movable therewith automatically operatlve-or lnoperative as the cutter bit thereon, and a pivotally and resiliently mounted shrouding member having a shroudlng head extending beyond the edge of said bit.

12. In a cutter chain, a chain having a cutter bit thereon, a pivotally and resiliently mounted shrouding -member having a shrouding head extending beyond the edge of said bit, and means for limiting its shrouding movement. I

13. In a cutter chain, a chain'having a cutter bit thereon, a shrouding member pivoted near one of its ends and having a shrouding'head and a stop on opposite ends, and means. normally holding said head in shrouding position.

14. In a cutter chain, a cutter link having a cutter bit thereon, an intermediate link, a shrouding member pivoted on said intermediate link, and a resilient connection between said shrouding member and one of said links. I

15. In a cutter chain, a cutter-link having a cutter bit thereon, an intermediate link, a

shrouding member pivoted on said interme diate link, and a resilient connection between said shrouding member and said cutter link. I

16. In a cutter chain, a cutter link having a cutter bit thereon, an intermediate link, a

shroudin 'member pivoted on said intermediate link, a resilient supportthere'for on said cutter link, and meansior' limiting the movement of said shrouding member relative to one of said links.

In testimony whereof I a flix' my signature.

MORRIS P. "HOLMES.

five-reente-each, by addressing" the iflommissiolier of Patents, Washington, 11.0." 

